UMBC Welcomes Climate Corps Fellow!

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 15:14:00 -0400
invasives, sei

UMBC Sustainability is happy to welcome UMBC's first SEI Climate Corps Fellow to our team! Bella Dastvan ('22) is working with UMBC Sustainability and Facilities Management to compile a comprehensive invasive species management program for the campus.

Bella has grown a great passion for the environment through working her first job at a garden center. She is originally from Darnestown, Maryland, and is currently a proud resident of Baltimore County. Bella graduated from UMBC last May earning a Bachelor's of Arts in Geography & Environmental Studies. Prior to working for SEI Climate Corps and the UMBC Office of Sustainability, she was a barista at OCA Mocha, a UMBC-affiliated cafe that strives to serve and connect with the community. Before that, Bella was working multiple jobs including being an Organic Solutions Representative for Compost Crew focusing on zero waste and composting pickup services, a field assistant & aquaponics research assistant for Grateful Gardeners organic flower farm, and a UMBC CoLab intern who helped with producing a urban forestry protocol manual for Baltimore Green Space, UMBC, and the greater community. Bella is interested in sustainability, agriculture, horticulture, natural resource management, and environmental justice. Outside of work, Bella loves hiking, camping, taking care of plants, cooking, jamming out on piano and guitar with friends, and singing. She sees herself as forever a student of the universe - there is ALWAYS something new for us to learn about ourselves, the environment, and the community!